Shower Device

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a shower device which simplifies the showering process by allocating soap, moisturizers, fragrances, and other detergent-type fluids through a shower head using the venturi concept so as to integrate the substance with the regularly dispensed water flow.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/734,003 filed on Dec.12, 2000, and priority is claimed thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is relevant to a shower device which incorporatesa system of drawing various solutions used during or after a shower fromreservoirs and dispensing them through the shower unit to theshowerhead.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An individual's morning routine is often hectic, especially if it mustbe coordinated with other members of the family who are all sharingvaluable time in the bathroom. The process of showering and moisturizingcan often be a time-consuming process that most people who are rushingto work or school in the morning would like to shorten and evenconsolidate.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,079,093 issued to R. Bellows on Feb. 26, 1963 describesa combination liquid soap dispenser and water spout that can be employedin a sink or a bathtub to make a bubble bath. This invention uses anintegral reservoir and spout in which the soap is stored completelywithin the spout. Unlike the present invention, the bubble bath isstored entirely within the spout and the force of gravity is used todispense the liquid into the water stream. The bubble bath is dispensedfrom the water spout of the bath tub and not the shower head renderingBellows's device unsuitable for the purposes of the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,131,232 issued to Pollinzi on Dec. 26, 1978 illustratesa device in which one liquid can be dispensed in controlled amounts toshower water through the use of a plastic container which is positionedabove the shower head. A valve is placed on the mouth of the dispensingcontainer and the contents within are dispensed through the force ofgravity. Unlike the present invention, this device does not use theVenturi concept to draw liquid from a reservoir.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,357,598 issued to Kraft on Dec. 12, 1967 describes aliquid dispenser which mixes liquid concentrate with pressurized liquidand uses a mechanism to mix the two substances. Unlike the presentinvention, Kraft's device has been developed for use with householdrefrigerators and the production of various beverages.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,254,647 issued to V. J. Vogel on Jun. 7, 1966 isconcerned with a device which may be attached to a faucet spout thatacts as a flow restrictor by exerting a positive back pressure. Theintention of this device is to mix the dispensed water withdisinfectants or medicaments that may be used in a douche device. Unlikethe present invention, Vogel's invention is attachable to the spout of astandard water faucet rather than a shower head. Additionally, Vogel'sdevice does not make use of the Venturi concept to mix the twosubstances.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,207,445 issued to Frank B. Court and Herbert J. Milleron Sep. 21, 1965 is relevant to a shower bath device which dispenses anaerated soap and water mixture. The device operates by use of an airinlet within a conduit system which allows the soap and water to combinein a mixing chamber. Unlike the present invention, water is introducedto a given amount of solution, therefore diluting the solution until ithas been completely dispensed rather than introducing the solution intothe water stream as the present invention does. Additionally, Court andMiller's device does not utilize the Venturi system to combine thesubstances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contains a mechanism used to draw a liquid into asupply hose so that it can be combined with water and discharged throughthe shower head. A given number of reservoirs are attached to a showerunit by a connecting supply hose. A various number of liquids can bestored in the reservoirs such as lotion, baby oil, shampoo, conditioner,aromas or shower gel. The solution dilution ratio will vary based on theviscosity of the solution placed in the reservoir.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a cross-section view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an external side view of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The present invention with attached solution reservoirs has a showerunit, and optionally, a supply hose, solution reservoirs, and areservoir holder. The shower unit with attached solution reservoirs canbe used with a conventional shower pipe.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the shower unit. FIG. 1illustrates shower unit (10) which attaches to a conventional showerpipe (not shown). There are several structural variations within thepresent invention which serve to facilitate the desired movement ofwater. A first region (12) exists on the right side of the shower unit(10) which communicates with a standard shower pipe (not shown). Thefirst region (12) is exhibited as cylindrical in shape. The shower unit(10) is slightly larger than the conventional shower pipe. The firstregion (12) has a threaded female adaptor (13) which attaches to theoutside diameter threads of the conventional shower pipe (not shown)thereby holding the shower unit (10) in place by the conventionalmethod.

To the left of the first region (12), there is a communication with asecond region (14), the next subsequent region of the shower unit (10).The second region (14) in this embodiment is conical in shape. Thesecond region (14) has a constricted diameter and its purpose is toincrease the velocity of the water traveling through the shower unit(10). At one point in the length of the inner tube of the shower unit(10), there is a porting region (15). In the porting region(15) thereduced diameter causes maximal increase in velocity of the water. Inthe preferred embodiment, the second region (14) is 0.420 inches indiameter at its wide end, and continually narrows as it approaches theporting region (15) which is 0.140 inches diameter. The angle at whichthe second region (14) constricts toward the porting region (15) is 12.5degrees.

After passing through the second region (14), the water moves into athird region (16), which is cylindrical in shape. The width of the thirdregion (16) is adequate to allow a high-velocity jet stream of water toflow through as well as leave a space for air within the third region(16). An inlet (25) is also shown which serves as an inlet as well as apoint of connection between the shower unit (10) and a solutionapparatus. Also as an attachment to the inlet (25) is a tube (31). Thetube (31) is a hollow short cylinder which fits within diameter of theinlet (25) to create a straw attachment that the supply tube (not shown)may adhere to.

The solution apparatus exhibits a mechanism for transferring solutionsuch as soap or shampoo through a supply hose (20) into the inlet (25)and the third region (16) (see FIG. 2) Solution will enter the showerunit (10) at the point where the inlet (25) communicates with the thirdregion (16). In the preferred embodiment, the inlet (25) is 0.078 inchesin diameter. The solution is drawn into the third region (16) by avacuum force naturally created by the jet stream of water moving pastthe inlet (25), a phenomenon known as a venturi action. The third region(16) provides a space for the water and soap solution to combinetogether. The positioning and size of regions (14, 15, 16, and 17) andthe inlet (25) are relative to the success of the venturi action.

After passing through the third region (16), water enters a fourthregion (17) that has a slightly larger diameter than third region (16).The fourth region (17) exists in this embodiment as a continuation ofthe cylindrical shape of the third region (16). In the preferredembodiment, third region (16) is 0.312 inches in diameter, and fourthregion (17) is 0.420 inches in diameter. The diameter of the fourthregion (17) is the largest in order to account for potential backflow ofwater when the water reaches the point of dispersal (18).

FIG. 2 shows the present invention with attached solution reservoirsfrom an external side view. The shower unit (10) is attached to theconventional shower pipe (100). The shower pipe supports a reservoirholder (40) which, in the present figure, holds two solution reservoirs(30). However, any number of reservoirs may be contained within theholder (40). The solution reservoirs (30) have caps which have anaperture (35). The aperture (35) is an opening through which the supplyhose (20) may enter the reservoir (30). The aperture (35) is slightlylarger than the diameter of the supply hose (20) so as to allow airpassage. The supply hose (20) is of adequate length to reach the bottomof the reservoir. The supply hose (20) connects the shower head unit(10) and the reservoirs (30).

Inlet (25) allows the supply hose (20) to connect the shower unit (10)to the solution reservoir (30). Internally, the shower unit (10) isdirectly connected to the standard shower pipe (100) normally found inthe shower. The shower unit (10) contains a constricted, throat-likepassage which serves to increase the velocity of the water transportedwithin. The shower unit (10) itself conforms to water savingspecifications of 2.5 gallons per minute as mandated by the requirementsestablishing water-use restrictions by the Energy Policy andConservation Act of 1992. The second region (14) will force the givenvolume of water into a small area, therefore increasing the velocity bywhich it is dispensed through the shower unit (10).

As the water is being transported through the conventional shower pipe(100), it will enter the second region (14, as shown in FIG. 1), in theshower unit (10) causing an increase in water velocity. The inlet (25)in the shower unit (10), which is connected to the supply hose (20)externally, is bypassed internally by the rapidly moving stream of waterthrough the shower unit (10). The rapid movement of water within theshower unit (10) creates a vacuum which draws the solution from thesolution reservoirs (30), which are connected to the other end of thesupply hose (20). This vacuum draws the solution from the reservoirs(30) into the shower unit (10). This phenomenon, known as the venturiconcept, is applied to draw solution into the shower unit (10) againstthe flow of gravity. The solution is integrated with the simultaneouslydispensed water from the shower pipe (100) at a speed fast enough tocombine the liquids and create a solution. The constriction in diameterof the second region (14) and porting region (15) is necessary to createthe vacuum force that draws the solution from the reservoir into theshower unit (10). As the solution is integrated into the water stream,it combines to form a soapy or moisturizing liquid within the thirdregion (16). Therefore, the solution that is finally discharged from theshower unit (10) at the point of dispersal (18) will provide aconvenient means of washing and/or moisturizing and may be personalizedto accommodate a person's aroma or fragrance preferences.

The present invention is a shower unit with attached reservoirs, but isnot limited exclusively thereto. It is to be understood that the presentinvention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, butencompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the followingclaims.

1. A mixing device for receiving water from a shower pipe, comprising: arestricted area; an expanded area, in communication with said restrictedarea; an inlet opening downstream of said restricted area and into saidexpanded area.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said inlet is on theside of said expanded area.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein saidrestricted area is configured to receive water from a shower pipe. 4.The device of claim 1, wherein said restricted area has a smallerdiameter than said expanded area.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein saidexpanded area is configured to receive water from said restricted area.6. The device of claim 1, wherein said expanded area is configured toreceive an input from said inlet after receiving water from saidrestricted area.
 7. The device of claim 2, wherein said restricted areais configured to receive water from a shower pipe.
 8. The device ofclaim 4, wherein said restricted area is configured to receive waterfrom a shower pipe.
 9. The device of claim 5, wherein said restrictedarea is configured to receive water from a shower pipe.
 10. The deviceof claim 6, wherein said restricted area is configured to receive waterfrom a shower pipe.
 11. The device of claim 2, wherein said restrictedarea has a smaller diameter than said expanded area.
 12. The device ofclaim 5, wherein said restricted area has a smaller diameter than saidexpanded area.
 13. The device of claim 6, wherein said restricted areahas a smaller diameter than said expanded area.
 14. The device of claim6, wherein said expanded area is configured to receive water from saidrestricted area.
 15. The device of claim 1, wherein said inlet is on theside of said expanded area, said restricted area is configured toreceive water from a shower pipe, and said restricted area has a smallerdiameter than said expanded area.
 16. The device of claim 1, whereinsaid inlet is on the side of said expanded area, said restricted area isconfigured to receive water from a shower pipe, and said expanded areais configured to receive water from said restricted area.
 17. The deviceof claim 1, wherein said inlet is on the side of said expanded area,said restricted area is configured to receive water from a shower pipe,and said expanded area is configured to receive an input from said inletafter receiving water from said restricted area.
 18. The device of claim1, wherein said restricted area is configured to receive water from ashower pipe, said restricted area has a smaller diameter than saidexpanded area, and said expanded area is configured to receive waterfrom said restricted area.
 19. The device of claim 1, wherein saidrestricted area is configured to receive water from a shower pipe, saidrestricted area has a smaller diameter than said expanded area, and saidexpanded area is configured to receive an input from said inlet afterreceiving water from said restricted area.
 20. A mixing device forreceiving water from a shower pipe, comprising: a restricted area; anexpanded area, in communication with said restricted area; an inletopening downstream of said restricted area and into said expanded area;wherein said inlet is on the side of said expanded area; wherein saidrestricted area is configured to receive water from a shower pipe;wherein said restricted area has a smaller diameter than said expandedarea; wherein said expanded area is configured to receive water fromsaid restricted area; wherein said expanded area is configured toreceive an input from said inlet after receiving water from saidrestricted area; and wherein said restricted area is configured toreceive water from a shower pipe.